Three IPAS researchers awarded ARC Discovery Projects grants
Read the Original Media Releasein the Newsroom
More than $10.7 million was awarded to 17 Ӱֱ of Adelaide projects in the latest round of Ӱֱn Research Council (ARC) Discovery Projects grants.
The awarded projects include research that will benefit critical mineral extraction, battery technology, environmental remediation, herbicide resistance, and improving motor learning in older people.
Discovery Projects grants are awarded to individuals and research teams whose work contributes to the growth of Ӱֱ’s research and innovation capacity.
“The wide berth of exceptional talent at the Ӱֱ of Adelaide is well reflected in these projects funded through the ARC’s Discovery Project scheme,” says the Ӱֱ’s Professor Anton Middelberg, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research).
“Our world-class research continues to contribute to the solutions for some of society’s most challenging problems, while building Ӱֱ’s future and knowledge base.”
The full list of funded Ӱֱ of Adelaide projects are:
A team led byProfessor Nigel Cookwas awarded$894,043to develop machine learning algorithms for a computational toolkit that can predict trace element behaviour, solubility limits, and copper-iron-sulphide speciation, and which will be adaptable to other sulphide systems.
Associate Prof Darren Creek (Monash Ӱֱ) & Associate Prof Danny Wilson(IPAS member) were awarded $841,033to explore molecular mechanisms behind malaria parasites’ rapid replication to inform new interventions.
Professor Paul Thomas and Professor Dr Anna Lindholmwere awarded$803,784to develop new genetic biocontrol technology to address the negative impact of invasive mammals on Ӱֱn agriculture and the environment.
A team led byAssociate Professor Jonathan Tylerwas awarded$751,276for a project which will help to develop records of climate and environment on Kangaroo Island to inform sustainable fire management and biodiversity conservation both on the island and across south-eastern Ӱֱ.
A team led byProfessor Zaiping Guowas awarded$727,100to develop scientific design principles for high-performance solid-state lithium batteries via extensive theoretical modelling and cutting-edge characterisation techniques.
A team led byDr Amy Clairwas awarded$693,896for international comparative, quantitative and qualitative analyses to provide new insights and a roadmap to support Ӱֱ to provide current and future generations with good housing outcomes.
A team led byDr Cameron Shearerwas awarded$693,889for a project that will develop a patentable new technology to transform environmental remediation methods.
Associate Professor Tak W. Kee(IPAS member) was awarded$693,889to develop light-driven technologies to degrade persistent environmental pollutants.
Dr Tatiana Soares da Costa and Dr Lesley Chengwere awarded$666,653to investigate how plant communication via extracellular vesicles may mediate herbicide resistance to develop new strategies for monitoring of resistance, targets for resistance circumvention, and restoration of herbicide susceptibility in resistant weeds.
A team led byProfessor Alan Collinswas awarded$661,834to study ancient rocks that formed in different oceans to gain insight on the evolution of oceanic dissolved oxygen and understand its impact on how complex cells evolved, and links to major critical metal deposits.
Emeritus Professor Stephen Tyerman and Professor Rainer Hedrichwere awarded$658,069for a project that will improve wheat nutrient use via the plant nitrogen–potassium–water nexus, providing significant benefits to farmers by creating new options for improved nutrient use efficiency in economically relevant plants, while also reducing the need for costly fertilisers.
Professor Yan Jiao and Dr Damien Voirywere awarded$618,299for a project which will leverage a combination of advanced molecular modelling for electrocatalyst/electrolyte prediction and experimental synthesis for performance testing to address the critical knowledge gap in sustainable chemistry regarding converting CO2 into propylene.
A team led byAssociate Professor John Semmlerwas awarded$574,888for a project that will use a novel form of non-invasive brain stimulation combined with multimodal techniques to investigate how synchronising brain oscillations at specific frequencies can improve motor learning in older adults.
A team led byProfessor Simon Holfordwas awarded$555,092to develop a systematic, process-oriented approach to define geological controls on the origin and transport of natural hydrogen and provide a framework for identifying drilling targets and quantifying exploration risks.
A team led byDr Alexander Franckewas awarded$545,825for a project that will track 600,000 years of flooding and aridification in Ӱֱ’s deserts to understand how tropical rainfall promotes excessive wet pulses and floods in Ӱֱ’s iconic dry desert interior.
A team led byProfessor Ching Tai Ngwas awarded$544,078to develop a new inspection technology for Ӱֱ with hard-to-inspect conditions, using fully non-contact nonlinear laser ultrasonics.
Dr Benjamin Liffner and Associate Professor Danny Wilson(IPAS member) were awarded$529,832to investigate two evolutionarily divergent parasites relevant to human and livestock health: Plasmodium, a mosquito-transmitted parasite that causes malaria, and Cryptosporidium, a gastrointestinal parasite.
A team led byProfessor Amanda Nettelbeckwas awarded$461,067for a project focusing on transcultural and gendered histories of Ӱֱ’s railways, which will contribute to a digital story map with the aim of making Ӱֱ’s transcultural and gendered railway heritage accessible to new audiences.
Professor Lisa Hillwas awarded$403,272to explore how Epicureanism impacted the British contribution to early modern political liberalism, classical political economy, and utilitarianism by assessing how it affected the works of seven key thinkers: Hobbes, Locke, Mandeville, Hume, Smith, Bentham and Mill.
More details about theare available, including a full list of all the researchers involved in each project.
Johnny von Einem, Senior Media Officer, Ӱֱ of Adelaide.Phone:+61 0481 688 436,:johnny.voneinem@adelaide.edu.au